San Francisco's waste management company Recology is celebrating 35 years of its Artist-in-Residence program with a free retrospective exhibition featuring artworks made from recycled garbage. The show, held at the Minnesota Street Project in collaboration with Recology, includes pieces by 63 artists who have scavenged materials from the company's 47-acre recycling center since 1990. Notable works include Nemo Gould's 'Impala' sculpture, made from scavenged antlers, power tools, and household items. The exhibition runs through August 30, 2025, and a traveling version called 'Reclaimed: The Art of Recology' is touring the country.
The exhibition matters because it highlights the transformative power of art in addressing environmental waste and sustainability. Recology's residency program, which has hosted over 190 professional artists and 60 student artists, demonstrates how creative reuse can inspire a more mindful relationship with discarded materials. By offering free public access, the show also makes art accessible to families and communities, reinforcing the role of art in social and environmental consciousness.